Li Yundong walked a considerable distance down the street, intending to catch the bus home, when he suddenly heard the roar of an engine close behind him once more.
He turned his head only to see Cao Kefei’s Lamborghini catching up to him. He shook his head in resignation, about to step forward and clarify matters.
Suddenly, the Lamborghini screeched to a halt in front of him with a perfect drift. The scissor doors swung open with a whoosh, and Cao Kefei snatched off her sunglasses, shouting frantically from inside, “Get in quickly! Someone’s chasing me! Help me!”
Li Yundong froze, unable to help but glance back. The road behind him was so empty it looked like you could lay down a mat there. He asked, perplexed, “Who’s chasing you?”
Cao Kefei bit her lip, urgent. “Are you really going to stand there and let someone die?”
Well, that was quite an accusation! Li Yundong sighed, helpless, and finally squeezed himself into the car.
The moment his head dipped inside, a look of mischievous triumph and cunning flashed in Cao Kefei’s eyes. She silently made a victory sign with her fingers, thinking, Cao Kefei versus Li Yundong—First round, in!
To prevent Li Yundong from noticing, she quickly put her sunglasses back on and shut the door. Before he could even settle into his seat, she slammed the accelerator, and the car roared away.
People along the roadside watched the scene unfold. The women gazed enviously at the speeding sports car, wishing they were Cao Kefei, while the men stared with envy at Li Yundong getting into the car, wishing they were him.
Because Cao Kefei was driving so fast, Li Yundong was tossed about in his seat. Watching car after car zoom by, he couldn’t help but shout, “Hey, are you filming Initial D? It’s rush hour! If you have to street race, pick another time!”
Cao Kefei glanced at the disheveled Li Yundong from behind her shades, feeling utterly victorious. She couldn’t help but laugh, “I thought you were always that calm and collected!”
Li Yundong sat up, very frustrated, and sighed, “Ms. Cao, you’re the CEO of a major film company. Do you really need to compete with a student like me?”
Cao Kefei seemed slightly surprised and turned her head to look at him. “You’re still a student?”
Li Yundong’s mind was already racing home. He replied casually, “Yes.”
Cao Kefei asked, “Which university?”
Li Yundong stated, “Tiannan University.”
Cao Kefei laughed. “Ah, I forgot. You go to the same school as Zhou Qin.”
Li Yundong asked curiously, “You know Zhou Qin too?”
“Heh, of course. Since ancient times, officials and merchants have been intertwined. If a businesswoman doesn’t know who the high-ranking officials overseeing her industry are, she might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!” Cao Kefei said languidly, as if hinting at something deeper. “In this land of China, you can’t get anywhere without connections and backing.”
After speaking, Cao Kefei subtly observed Li Yundong’s reaction, but his expression remained perfectly still, like undisturbed water.
Damn it, where did such deep composure come from at such a young age? Cao Kefei muttered inwardly. She didn't realize that Li Yundong was fundamentally a person without deep calculation. He had simply spent so much time with Su Chan that he had gradually absorbed her innocence and cheerfulness, maintaining a heart as pure as a child’s.
Standing firm like a cliff face, one is strong without desire!
When a person has no wants or cravings, they appear lofty and inscrutable, prompting awe and reverence.
“I don’t believe there isn’t something you need from me!” Cao Kefei thought, somewhat petulantly, like a child.
As she was sizing him up, Li Yundong suddenly pointed ahead and yelled sharply, “Watch out!”
Cao Kefei jumped in alarm and looked forward, seeing an Audi speeding straight toward them.
Cao Kefei wrenched the steering wheel hard, and the small sports car narrowly scraped past the Audi with a screech. Fortunately, Li Yundong had grabbed the door handle immediately; otherwise, he would have been tossed around uncontrollably.
After the two cars narrowly missed each other, Li Yundong looked at Cao Kefei, his face pale with shock. “Ms. Cao, could you please watch the road when you drive?”
Cao Kefei’s cheeks flushed, and she finally slowed the car down, obediently merging into the normal traffic flow.
Li Yundong nervously fumbled with his seatbelt, fastening it, gripping the handle, his eyes wide as if bracing for battle.
Watching him, Cao Kefei let out a small chuckle. “Are you that tense? I’ll drive slower.”
Li Yundong looked utterly helpless. “How can I not be tense? If I died in a car crash, that would be the ultimate tragedy!”
Li Yundong was already standing on the threshold of cultivation. If he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, his future achievements would be boundless. But to die in a mundane car accident… there couldn’t be a more wronged person in the world!
Cao Kefei pouted, “My driving skills are excellent!”
Li Yundong smiled. “Alright then, Comrade Schumacher, could you possibly give me a ride home? I haven't seen anyone chasing you along this route, by the way.”
Cao Kefei slammed on the brakes, pulling the car over. She looked at Li Yundong with a mournful expression, her sorrow so profound it could move an iron man. “Li Yundong, you saved my life once. Can’t you at least let me thank you?”
Li Yundong frowned, his expression troubled and conflicted. “But, my girlfriend is waiting for me at home.”
Cao Kefei pleaded, “Can’t we just have one meal?”
Li Yundong hesitated for a moment. He patted his pockets and realized he hadn’t brought his phone. He asked Cao Kefei, “Could I borrow your phone?”
Cao Kefei handed him her iPhone. Li Yundong dialed Su Chan’s number and waited. After a moment, a sweet, slightly clumsy voice answered, “Yundong? When are you coming back?”
Li Yundong couldn't help but laugh softly. “How did you know it was me calling?”
Su Chan giggled, “Only two people know my number, remember? One is Zhou Qin, and the other is you.”
Li Yundong smiled. “Good, good. You’re smart. Are you being good at home?”
Su Chan acted spoiled. “I’m being very good! When are you coming back?”
Li Yundong glanced up at Cao Kefei and said, “I have to have dinner with a CEO from the company. I’ll be back soon, okay?”
Su Chan’s voice held an undeniable note of disappointment, but she replied obediently, “Oh, alright then. Hurry back, I’ll wait for you!”
Li Yundong said goodbye to Su Chan with a smile and handed the phone back to Cao Kefei.
Cao Kefei suddenly felt a sharp pang in her chest. Competing with a little girl for a man? What was this all about?
But then Cao Kefei reconsidered, gritted her teeth, took the phone back, started the car, and thought to herself: No matter what, Cao Kefei versus Li Yundong—Second round, in!
Cao Kefei drove toward the west side of the city. Li Yundong noticed that both sides of the street were lined mostly with bars, sauna houses, and upscale hotels. He paused, asking, “Where is this place?”
Cao Kefei got out of the car, took off her sunglasses, and smiled slyly. “Su’an Road. Haven’t you been here?”
Li Yundong’s expression turned strange. He stammered, “Is this… is this the legendary red-light district of Tiannan City?”
Cao Kefei burst into laughter. “Look how nervous you are! Relax. There’s a great restaurant here. I’ll take you.”
Li Yundong was surprised. “There are restaurants here?”
Cao Kefei smiled. “You’ll know once we go in.”
Li Yundong chuckled. “It’s not going to be a Western restaurant, is it?”
Cao Kefei looked at him with some surprise. “How did you know?”
Li Yundong shrugged. “Classy beauties like you all favor Western restaurants. Zhou Qin is the same. It’s just that I don’t really see what’s so high-class about them!”
Cao Kefei’s eyes darted, and she smiled. “Then fine, we won't go to a Western place. I also know a fantastic Sichuan restaurant here. Want to go together? You can handle spicy food, right?”
Li Yundong made up his mind: when in Rome, do as the Romans do. He laughed, “How do you spell ‘spicy’?”
Cao Kefei giggled. “Alright then, let’s eat till we drop tonight.”
With that, Cao Kefei led Li Yundong from the parking lot into a Sichuan restaurant named Ba Shu Chuan Xiang. She ordered a relatively secluded booth by the window, then rested both hands supporting her chin, gazing intently at Li Yundong, who was studying the menu.
It was around six in the evening. The sky was still bright, and a touch of crimson sunset glow hung on the horizon. This faint red light happened to illuminate Li Yundong’s cheeks, giving the young man a certain indescribable spiritual quality about him.
Although he had exuded a composure on the journey that seemed inconsistent with his age, Cao Kefei could still detect the shyness and inexperience beneath his youthful features.
He was like a piece of uncarved jade, just beginning to reveal a corner of its inner preciousness, while the exterior remained hard and rough stone—a stone that required a patient and gentle artisan to carefully polish and sculpt before it could be transformed into a masterpiece of exquisite craftsmanship.
But who would be the artisan to polish and carve? And who would ultimately own this finished piece?
Cao Kefei stared at Li Yundong, her gaze infatuated. This young man before her lacked the filthy materialism and decadent aura of this murky world. He was filled with vigorous, upward-striving, masculine vitality. The moment she drew near him, she felt completely refreshed, as if soaking in a hot spring.
Especially when Cao Kefei recalled the overwhelming rush of pleasure Li Yundong had once given her on the very edge of death, the mature woman felt a heat rise in her lower abdomen, a dampness, an itch, making her yearn to share the intimacy of the marital bed with this mysterious and miraculous young man.
I wonder how this boy performs in bed... Cao Kefei’s eyes shimmered with desire, her gaze languid and suggestive.
After ordering the food, Li Yundong looked up and saw Cao Kefei gazing at him with intense interest. He couldn’t help but smile. “What are you looking at?”
Having spent more time with Li Yundong, Cao Kefei was gradually relaxing, no longer as constrained and flustered as before. She looked at him with bold curiosity and asked, “Can you tell me,